Retribution and Valentine's Day

Police in South Carolina are attempting to build a case against the once great swimmer, Michael Phelps.

Despite my feelings on the entire thing (i think he should be grilled), I think this type of hopeful-celebrity-investigation nonsense is stupid. And whilst the police continue on this goose chase to get 'evidence' he smoke pot, everyone else stops and thinks, it was ONLY marijuana.

Ridiculous.

Anyway, girl scout cookies are in and I know those thin mints are waiting on me, as I've waited on them.

The Daytona 500 is this weekend, and with it, comes my realization that my apathy for the sport is so strong, i can't believe this sentence has gone on this long.

The Lone Grove, Oklahoma area was shocked to realize they can still get tornado's - nine have now perished as a result of the storm.

And for you Twister fans, the storm was an EF-4.

Speaking of movies, the Oscar's are a little more than a week away and I'm feeling Slumdog, will bark again.

If I haven't mentioned it before, Slickdeals.net, is a crafty little site to get a deal on about anything from used DVD's to computers, to lingerie and dinner coupons.

Speaking of slickdeals and dinner coupons, here is a wonderful deal for a meal for two at Texas Roadhouse. Not my fave but a really good deal, none the less. And another, buy one entree get one free at TGIFriday's.

Just check out Slickdeals.

On the subject of Valentine's day, or St. Valentine's day, I think it apporopriate that you understand who St. Valentine was. He was merely a priest who suffered martyrdom in 269 AD. His relics are on display at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin and at the Church of St. Praxed in Rome.

He apparently went against the emperor and performed marriages for soldiers. The emperor (Claudius) believed that married men did not make god soldiers and therefore banned soldiers from being wed. Valentine proceeded with the marriages in secrecy, until Claudius discovered his actions and had Valentine thrown into jail. While in jail, Valentine, according to The Golden Legend, wrote the first 'valentine' to a young lady he supposedly was infatuated with. According to the legend, the note read: 'From your Valentine."

Speaking of old stuff, which makes me think of hairless-ness, odor and toothless-ness, Bella, yes the dog, is suffering some of the last-named.

Cricket

A rather good explanation of Cricket.

Giant Snowball on Hampstead Heath

London and the UK continues to be blanketed by snow, the most snow in more than 18 years.

Some people seem to have left work all together and joined in Hampstead Heath.

What I'm' Reading 2.2

After that disgusting display of a super Bowl last night, once again I emphasize a small 's', I made it to bed, but not before reading a few things that should enlighten and enhance your view of the world.

Although, probably odd to those of you here, London and the UK received snow yesterday and last night and the precipitation is very rare for the Britons, therefore causing plenty of travel problems.

And if you are having trouble (chuckling) there are plenty of contacts to help you in the event of a dreadful event, such as snow.

The super bowl commercials were just OK, in my opinion but you can vote for your favorite here.

One of the commercials about the two nobodies, near the beginning of the game, was actually made by two brothers from Batesville, Ind.

My personal favorite was the 'Tips - Career Builder' commercial.



Moving on, egg and sperm donations are up, many expect it is due to the bad economy.

I nearly forgot, the groundhog saw his shadow.

Up In Smoke

After that disaster of a super Bowl - notice I emphasize a small 's', due to a lack of super-ness - I wrapped up my weekend reading a story that really disappoints and unnerves me.

I didn't hear about it prior until I looked at my BBC Headline drop-down from my toolbar, but Michael Phelps was apparently caught on camera smoking marijuana at a party in South Carolina. Phelps has since apologized to his fans.

He better be apologizing hard to his sponsors as well, but then again, in many ways I'm not surprised.

The post-Olympic buzz, no pun intended, has bitten Phelps more than once now, as he was arrested in 2004 for a DUI, when he was 19.

I could care less, now, how disappointed he is, I am appalled and disappointed at what he has done for his young fans.

But, the fact remains that he has clearly broken the law at least twice, and most definitely many more times.

To me it seems Phelps, like so many other athletes, believe they can continue on their paths of UN-righteousness and never be bothered, or, get caught.

Well, this makes twice for Phelps and if he has one more, he will lose sponsorship and will probably have to answer to someone with more clout than his mother.

I think this young man - 6 months older than me - is a disgrace, at this point and an embarrassment to U.S.A. Swimming and to the country itself.

The golden boy continues to show tarnish and it is really sad he can't leave the nonsense behind when he HAS TO know so many young kids, like the ones I coach, look up to him. It is agravating to anyone who struggles to succeed in anything, when they see a story about the most successful Olympian of all time smoking marijuana and getting arrested for DUI.

I hope he feels bad and I hope someone unseats him in the coming competitions, because it is a disgrace that this athlete continues to display his disinterest in professionalism when he could be so much more, especially to the 7 to 11 year olds I see every night at Hibberd Pool.

"I want to be like Michael Phelps," I've heard many of them say, since his success in Beijing.

I hope for their sake, at this point, they soon don't hold onto that wish.

200th Post

For my 200th post on this blog I thought I'd do something along the lines of 200's.

So here it goes:

In honor of Black History month, just around the corner, here is a link to 200 notable African Americans that have been fundamental to U.S. and world history.

A description of the world in the year 200 AD.

CC is the roman numeral for 200 and the no. 200 apears in the Padovan Sequence - thank you geometry class.

There is a 200 Euro note, as well as a 200 note in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and China, among others.

For Nascar fanatics, 200 is the number of races Richard Petty won in his career, according to Wikipedia, of course.

In Monopoly, and while speaking of money, 200 is the traditional amount a player gets for passing go. But you knew that.

A cholesterol level of 200 or below is thought to be a healthy sign.

The Rover 200, made by The Rover Group and MG Rover, is a popular car in Europe.

And for the fun of it, here are 200 impressions by someone I don't know. They are really good.



(And, oh, the picture at the top is what came up when I did a Google search for '200')

What's About 1.27

The transition from attending school every semester for 4 consecutive years can spoil. I mean, I work, NOT every day but, now that i'm out (and still searching for jobs), I'm at Reid Hospital many days, utilizing my degree to the furthest: washing dishes.

Don't get the feeling I dislike the hospital, on the contrary, I love the place and am thankful for what it has given me for more than 4 years. The place just wears on you, especially with the corrupt bureaucracy that creeps its head into even the most un-impeccable conditions. The thing is, I don't think some people even know who I am and the judgment in their look and direction is enough to belittle those around them. I hate it.

NOT that i'm anyone but, I could take their job if I applied for it. I wish them to know that.

Anyway, aside from the hospital I'm taking on the responsibility of a full-time dad. No, no, I haven't reached that moment in life. Bella, my dog, keeps me busy and as you can see she finds time to drag me from this machine quite often, only to climb under grandma's bed.

She is getting better and it seems she's got the idea that some things are not right, ala pooing on the floor, tearing up curtains and even eating tissues.

She is growing at an alarming rate and after the vet appt. two weeks ago, I would venture to guess she has put on at least 5 lbs. Seriously, I bet she weighs between 21 and 25 lbs. She has another appt. Feb. 3 and we'll see how she is doing but, I think she's doing better than I ever expected.

We sit 24 days from the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training and once again, I couldn't be more ready; as my faded Reds hat sits on my head more and more everyday

Things to check out:

Take a look at the NEW whitehouse.gov. The new site was launched soon after the new president was sworn in and will include a lot of new features. After reading this about the White House, change HAD to come to the White House, in terms of technology. It is quite bizarre to think that all the computers in our house were more powerful than the ones at the White House. Unbelievable. Running a country while not informing yourself to the best of your abilities. Unbelievable.

Anyway, the president will do weekly briefings with the nation through Youtube videos, on decisions made that week and/or situations the presidency and nation are facing.

The 'briefing room' is a nice tab featuring the weekly addresses, a blog as well as other information about what is going on.

- A lady in California has given birth to ocuplets. Yes, that is eight babies. And she did it in record time.

- So, why were they eating these again, anyway?

- Stewards of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz are appealing for money to fund its preservation.

- For those of you in doubt of 'liberal media' here is a site to peruse. Stinkyjournalism is an online media ethics site pointing fingers at wrongdoing in journalism.

- Some small cities are bailing out struggling car dealers because the revenue they create through sales tax income pays for more than half of the cities income.

- Some zoo's and aquariums are cutting back, just like everyone else. How are they doing that? Find out here.

You may or may not know that I love movies. I don't like television and I prefer staring at the wall to those programs you call 'reality t.v.' I feel that staring at the wall my mind won't become quite as numb and I'll actually learn more from the wall than those dreadful programs.

I love movies though and I've seen all of the candidates for Best Picture, at the Oscars, except The Reader. I adored Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button was good too.

Anyway aside from all of those movies, I watched Green Street Hooligans for the first time and loved it. If you haven't seen it and have any interest in British culture, football (soccer), or just plain violence give it a tune. I also watched Into the Wild again, once again very good movie, thought provoking and life-enhancing.

What I'm Reading 1.14

I have been gone for a while but not without taking notes on everything taking place in our interesting world.

- The Christmas season came and went, while I regret I didn't give feedback on the joyous celebrations of the birth of Santa Clause.

- The dog, Bella, has continued to grow - as it stands, after a brief veterinarian appointment last week - she weighs in at more than 17 lbs. But the report did not come without a prophecy from the dog master, who felt she was large for her age and we could be looking at a 80 lb. beast roaming the hardwood floors of the Sheets estate in a short time. Oh and she is pretty well potty trained.

- I think I've drank more tea than Queen Elizabeth in the past month - my thirst for the stuff is fueled by my idea that the more I drink the closer I'll be back in London, oh London, more on that later.

- I've applied for jobs in different areas but have had no good news, as of today at 9:11 a.m. EST, including one data analyst job at the hospital.

- Ball State's football season went into the garbage can after two bad games in a row, and two dreadful performances by QB Nate Davis. And how does Davis celebrate his mediocrity, why he declares for the NFL draft. Seems a bit wrong, despite losing one's coach to warmer conditions and more lucrative deals.

- I finished Twilight - - pretty good series but no where near Harry Potter.

- 29 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training!


It has been more than a year since I departed the clutching grip of the U.S. and traveled abroad for the first time.

January 8, came and went and despite my best intentions to skip over the date without feeling at least a tiny bit of regret that I am still have trouble finding what is better here than there, I didn't forget and I found myself dumping trash behind Reid Hospital at 10 a.m.

I have been thinking about the good things and the bad that made my trip so memorable, with the good far outweighing the bad to a degree my vision is clouded about anything bad that happened at all.

The other day I thought about little things, things I can only remember that were insignificant yet are so appealing now. For example, the double-locked front door to our flat and the sound of it slamming; the smell on the street after emerging from the flat: an aroma of exhaust and greek cuisine (there was a Greek restaurant just down the street); the walk to City of Westminster college: through Paddington, around the corner on Porchester Terrance and the smell of the Indian restaurant, seemingly on every corner; the trips to the theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights; No. 15 bus rides; the smell of the Tube. . .

Yes, I miss London and can seriously see myself living there. As I tell everyone who hasn't gotten tired of me talking about it: London is a great city for city lovers and non-city lovers. There is the big city atmosphere but it is more about the differences within neighborhoods which don't act as big-city at all.

I just can't wait to get back and perhaps, with enough luck, have the ability to stay for longer periods of time.

Bella Rose

A lot has happened since I last wrote but I've been busy. I'll attempt to catch you up on what you don't know and what you may know but haven't heard.

First off, Ball State lost and yesterday lost more - their coach Brady Hoke, who is taking the head coaching position at San Diego State University. Can't blame him for the San Diego vs. Muncie or the 4 year $3.5 million contract.

It is finals week and for me the FINAL week of my undergraduate studies, can't believe it. I graduate Saturday, never would have thought it four years ago.

Andi and I made a long trip to Shipshewana, Ind. to pick up our new addition: a rambunctious 8-week-old Doberman puppy. It is a joint Christmas gift and she is really the cutest thing I could have imagined. We made the trip Monday, leaving at 4:40 a.m. and arriving at 8 a.m.

I'll get more into her and her 'breeders' later.

On the way home we stopped by Petsmart in Muncie and got her a collar, leesh, a Nylabone, and a bag of food.

Right now she is sitting on my lap, dreaming with paws outstretched - charging up for another 20 minute burst of energy.

Only 8 days till Christmas, do you have your shopping done? I don't.

12-0 Ball State!?

When I started going to Ball State in 2005, they were enduring another losing season.

I never would have thought at this point, as I'm about to graduate, that Ball State would have just completed an undefeated season in anything, let alone football.

Pat Forde of ESPN.com has a nice story on the Card's this morning and it can be read here. Once again, I never would have predicted this in 100 years.

And one more story about Nate Davis, QB for the Card's, and his tumultuous rise to becoming what some people see as a potential first-round NFL draft pick.

What I'm Reading 11.20

The Ball State Cardinals closed out an exciting game with a Nate Davis to Briggs Orsbon TD pass, last night against Central Michigan University, to move the fightin' Card's (as Letterman puts it) to 11-0.

And now: my soapbox. This morning I made my 40-mile trip to Muncie and upon arriving in the AJ building I pick up a Daily News - even though I hardly ever read the articles.

First off, there is a young man who covers the football team and has for a couple years. He has fallen into a good situation, as the team has been successful this year, and at 11-0 I guess it is too much to ask for a decent game story.

I want to tread softly because I know he is a fellow amateur but, after several game stories I think he would take the time to not dribble editorial comments throughout his stories.

And to you that say: well, Nathan I'd like to see if you could do better, I say: I absolutely and unequivocally could. I know football, I could report on it and I could develop story ideas - daily- about interesting parts of the team.

To him: just report the game, be creative but don't tell me that Ball State has had 10 straight blowout wins because what's blowout to you, may not be blowout to me.

I enjoy reading what happened at the game not what you thought about it unless, it is on the editorial page.

Next:

I have continued reading and am now half through Twilight. The movie is coming out tomorrow and there is a lot of anticipation from people across the world.

Besides drawing close to the weekend, I'm drawing close to the 200th post on this blog. If anyone has any ideas for the 200th post, please let me know.

____________________________________________________________________

Today is the Great American Smokeout, you should quit today. I have.

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was named as the new director of Homeland Security.

The history of the flag is rather interesting, read into it.

The Somali Pirates (sounds like a baseball team) are causing more to go up than the price on their heads.

Some people are predicting the death of the iPod but here are 50 fun things to do with your, obviously, archaic mp3 player.

When I was at the Star Press, I would laugh at the stories that constantly rolled through their Web site from the AP feed. Here is one I discovered this morning. He will get only soup from now on.

Crude oil prices fell to below $50 per barrel as demand is its lowest in 23 years, according to Bloomberg.

SPORTS

Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio were talking about Adam 'Pacman' Jones this morning and about reinstatement, again. For those not in the know, Pacman was 'given' a 'bodyguard' hired by the Dallas Cowboys, to basically keep him in line. Pacman then got into an intoxicated altercation with his 'bodyguard' at a hotel and Pacman was suspended, again.

So this morning, Mike Greenberg silenced the program and caused me to nearly swerve off the road with laughter, as he distinguished between a bodyguard and a babysitter. He said Pacman's 'bodyguard' was really a babysitter:

"A bodyguard protects you from others," Greenberg said. "A babysitter protects you from yourself."

(It was funny to me, because it is true)


Ocho Cinco is NOT active tonight and according to Brad Johansen it is due to Chad missing a team meeting after over sleeping. So it goes.

Coco Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals for RP Ramon Ramirez. Reports are, the Reds were close in acquiring Crisp but didn't want to give up a bucket of balls for him.

Brady Quinn is already hurt - I have to change my lineup, again. So it goes. Oh and the Browns GM sent an email response to a fan that included an (expletive). OH NO!

Mike Mussina retired after winning 20 games. I want to look into players from all major sports who have retired after having a very good or their best season - this may have been Mussina's.

What I'm Reading 11.19

Still sick, I awoke and went to work reading Twilight before watching BBC news America - now a daily routine.

The Twilight series is increasingly popular now and many fans of the Harry Potter series have latched onto the Twilight books and I had put it off until yesterday. And just in time, as the movie comes out this weekend.

Yesterday, in addition to buying that book, I traveled down town and paid my fines at Morrison-Reeves Library prior to taking out a couple movies: Persepolis and Trainspotting, an Arctic Monkeys CD and a couple of Grateful Dead CD's.

Later, after swim club, my dad and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings, where I argued with the waitress, while attempting to make her accept my 6-free-wings coupon that expired last week. She didn't.

____________________________________________________________________

One story I've been following is the increase in - or reporting increase - of Somalian Pirate activity in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Africa. Yesterday, a suspected pirate ship, no not like that, was sunk and it is thought to be a 'mother ship' to other smaller vessels.

Speaking of pirates, Hugh Jackman was named sexiest man alive - something I hate more than the publication that produces it. I mean come on, let me decide that.

More good news on the economy.

The Seattle Mariners provide MLB its first Asian-American manager.

Microsoft is planning to offer free security: they might as well offer free software and computers because they are so far behind a much, much better company.

Can you say: retribution.

Oxford has compiled the most annoying phrases. I guess they have some time on their hands. Are you someone who uses these more than Oxford says you should:

The top ten most irritating phrases:

1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science

And speaking of Briton language, apparently half of Britons struggle with apostrophes. I know I do.

Seton High School basketball was launched last night - and they were launched out of the gym.

And last but certainly not least: who rocks the best mustache?

What I'm Reading 11.18

I felt sick this morning.

Nothing more to it; just felt sick.

I headed to the Square Donuts place on NW 5th St. this morning for their 25 cent coffee and a 70 cent donut. Check it out; I believe it is Monday and Tuesday mornings that coffee is cheap.

Last night I was entertained, err, annoyed by a require speaker for my classes in AJ 175 of the Arts and Journalism Building. OK, they bring in these experts, and I knew she would be the same as all the others before she began, and they put you to sleep for an hour showing facts and figures as well as biased input into graphs and maps and lines and dots and hell knows what else.

And I wait till the end, oftentimes collapsed in my seat, morose and ALWAYS asking: So, what does it all mean? They never answer.

ANYWAY:

Web site powerhouses are the new watchdogs of our government, as newspapers have fallen off in recent years and will continue to do so.

Dems and GOP's are arguing. No surprise, yet it is over energy policy and this guy. You can have him.

Speaking of politics, I always thought Henry Waxman, D-Calif., looked like one of the bad guys from Ducktales.

Considering Hillary Clinton, the NY Times looks into her husband and the dealings he has had and whether they are a problem for her to become Secretary of State.

Today C. Trent reported that the BBC reported that new Nike boots (shoes) smell like cat wee (pee). They often call them: train-uhz (phonetically for trainers).

C. Trent also gives us the Bowls that should exist.

Mark Cuban is accused of insider trading; what is that, you say? J.A Adande takes a look at the controversy and says it isn't what the NBA needs right now.

The Reds broke ground at their new Arizona Spring training home. Ugh.

Bluegrass music, one of my favorite, still-pure, things of American culture is hitting it big - in New York City.

The Twilight premier was big in Hollywood. I still have to read it.

We're a week out from high school basketball, another thing I still enjoy.

WATCH OUT! And, another reason, why I hate hunting. I mean how civilized are we and every year you have people shooting other people in the woods thinking they are deer. First, do people look like deer? And second, it makes me think that some people are so trigger-happy to shoot at something that they shoot at anything. I guess it makes sense; they're probably just trying to get SOMETHING so that they can get down out of their tree-stand they've spent hours to build, wrapped up in camo-gear, reeking of deer scent, freezing in 20 degree temps, etc. This lady thinks it's necessary, since we've wiped out the native predators, but asks: must we revel in it. I don't.

I don't understand spending, umm, no, wasting money on ammo, guns, deer scent, silly clothes and god knows what else.

I'll just buy meat at Marsh.

What I'm Reading 11.17

Beginning my day I always scan the headlines to see what has happened - overnight or abroad.

My most read sources for all types of information include:

MSNBC.com - U.S. and world news
WSJ.com - U.S. and world news
NPR.com - Hourly news summaries and world news
Telegraph.co.uk - Daily Telegraph, London newspaper site for UK and London news
BBC.com - World news
Pal-Item.com - Local News
Thestarpress.com - Muncie local news
ESPN.com
Cnn.com
Redlegnation.com - Cincinnati Reds news and comment
The Lot D - C. Trent Rosecrans Cincinnati sports blog
mlbtraderumors.com - baseball transaction news site

And that is just in one sitting. I often look at all types of sources for news but do not rely much on the information of blogs unless it is a blog that has broken a huge story.

Considering that:

Today I awoke to see that Barack Obama may have to give up his trusty BlackBerry.

And speaking of president-elect Obama, Catholics may have to repent if they voted for him.

The Onion reports the Obama win may have caused a massive void in Obama's most ardent supporters.

The Washington Post takes a look at The Onion and how it came to be what it is.

The Chicago Tribune takes a look at the revival of live albums. I don't know, I've never been a huge fan, but there are a couple I have listened to religiously. Thanks to C. Trent for the heads up. This one, this one and this one I have listened to a lot.

Albert Pujols won the NL MVP. He deserved it hands down. I'm surprised Kosuke Fukodome didn't win though.

Christmas is just around the corner and I will place a few gift ideas in each post - for me or for people you want to actually buy gifts for, if there is such a thing. Like this one.

Mr. Bill, the former SNL turned commercial character might make a good gift.

I just found this story after reading some about The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.

What I'm Reading

I'm going to officially name something I do a lot but haven't tagged as anything. It will be entitled "What I'm reading into," and it is the random news posting and links I post often times only once a week.

I will work hard to post everthing I read into during the weeks, save the boring research stuff I look at for classes and certain tasks I involve myself throughout the week.

Enjoy this video, it is about something I see happening throughout the U.S. soon.

Check out this guy

When does baseball season start?!?

The Reds just might make a run at something legitimate, well then again maybe not.

Outrage

I'm on a roll today and not because I'm in a good mood but because I've been pushed too far with jokes and distasteful violence directed toward 'OUR' president-elect.

Here you go conservatives; a few things to be proud of.

And be ready for a column from me, on all of THIS next week in some publication, some where.








And i just know none of you wishing to face the truth will watch any of these videos.

LISTEN!

I assume its too much to ask the BWWAA, B - whatever to vote for the manager who did the best job. I don't even think Lou Piniella was the best manager in the division. i.e. Tony Larussa. Larussa willed a team of no bodies, outside of Albert Pujols to stay in the division race until the last few weeks of the season. Lou, on the other hand, did what the cubs do and collapsed with bad managing down the stretch. Well, I guess it does help to have a lot of the baseball writers voting from your area.

A bit surprised the AL got it right and Joe Maddon was AL manager of the year.

Back to important life.

My friends over at Whodeyrevolution took drastic action as you can see above, to show Mike Brown once and for all that WE are not kidding around and that he sucks.

XM Radio has their new lineup out and I'm stoked about the Grateful Dead channel and NPR!

I'm reading Al Gore's The Assault on Reason and it is very good and NO it is not partisan rant.

Want a job with the new president? The application is attached.

85,000 - what's that? The amount of homes foreclosed on in October.

Knicks fans have realized they do have a basketball team and they have once again figured out how to support them. And more from the Onion - some of baseball's lesser known awards.

Richmond has a trend.

Ball State is now 10-0 and ranked no. 14 in the BCS. Who would have thunk it?

The Reds are interested in some Rockie players. And yes I mean rocky players. More here.

What??

Here's some news that will hit home, from the Pal-Item:

RICHMOND — Area sheriff's deputies and firefighters got their first taste of equine water rescue early Monday when they pulled a horse from a swimming pool at a Niewoehner Road property.

The horse had apparently gotten free from a neighboring pasture and wandered to a residence at 2777 Niewoehner Road where it walked out onto a pool cover and fell in, according to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies.

As it flailed to get out it became entangled in the cover. At some point the property owners, Evan and Jane Collinsworth, became aware of the horse's predicament and called 911, police said.

Here is the rest of the story.

You've Gotta see the Yankee Flipper

Swim Coach?

It's weird being on the other side in regards to swimming but I enjoyed the perks this weekend, or should I say the hospitality room.

I'm figuring no one knows about my secret life as a swimming coach for Richmond Swim Club but now you do.

I have been coaching and instructing 7 to 12 year olds at Hibberd Pool throughout the week. They have come a long way and many of them had their first swim meet this weekend at New Castle. The meet itself was nothing to be proud of, if you're from New Castle, as I arrived at dark (7 a.m.) and left at dark (7:30 p.m.). The marathon, or rather epic, day was full of thrills and excitement and a few head bumps to the wall in backstroke.

The fun thing about coaching I realized this weekend is that I don't have to get in the pool and I am at liberty from the parents to do whatever I see fit to make the kids better. This weekend was no different as I set goal times for a number of them and most-of-which fulfilled or surpassed those times.

One young man in particular was in his first swim meet. Excited, nervous and a bit preoccupied with his new TY snake, led him to have a wonderful day that he didn't even know was coming. For him, who has improved more than any other swimmer I've had so-far, I told him to shoot for a 47 in the 50 free style, a modest time, I thought and one that should be within reach for him by the end of the year, I thought. At 9 years old, I never would have known what to do, if my coach told me to do the best I could just before coaxing me into freezing water to swim down and back. But, I didn't swim when I was 9 and never would have thought at 9 that I would ever be a coach of anything.

Anyhow, nervous for the start he threw himself into the pool with a very nice start and swam down and back in a whopping 46.99. What a coach I am, thinking he would only hit that mark by the end of the year. Good job buddy.

Throughout the day I helped swimmers get to their lanes, addressed parents, set up relays and dealt with one disregard able coach from New Castle, who should NOT be coaching young children.

The day was fulfilled by dinner time and along with Andi I headed home with my first experience on the other side and I felt fulfilled. The experience is more than I ever thought it could be and I look forward to coaching tonight and getting some reaction from the kids on how the meet went.

HENRY!

WOW! Other people have Henry dogs! Check out this guy's site.

Don't ask how I got to it. Go to it!

What is that? (throws up in mouth)

No comment on this article.

President Barack Obama

Here is an incredible slide show of people from around the world celebrating President-elect Barack Obama's victory.

Whether you like him or not I can't believe people not being excited about the outcome due to social reasons and the fact of everthing that has transpired in the United States in the last 40 years. Civil Rights movement to now. Wow.

It's a GREAT day to be an American, whether you realize it now or not.

America Has Spoken

Yesterday was a day to be proud of our country; with or w/o the outcome.

Awaking at 5:45 to make it to the poll by 6 a.m. to vote, I noticed the huge turnout as many were doing the same thing I was.

"Hear ye, hear ye, the polls are now open," said one election official, as he ushered the first voters into the Kuhlman Center in Richmond, Ind. yesterday morning.

There was a silent bustling anticipation amongst the crowd and it wouldn't have taken a presumptive journalist to notice it. But something about this day was different.

The difference was not bore from the difference in the candidates or the passion people held for their candidate, it was the empathic feeling from people. For once I felt America cared and for once they were showing it.

I waited for 30 minutes to cast my ballot - long enough for me to notice the lack of confusion and haste by the crowd forming behind me.

I watched as all types came to vote and took notice of what American's will be proud of for years to come - when they saw the largest turnout of their time make a difference.

And for many the day ended in disappointment and I'm sure some are angry. But we must move past this and realise that what 'we' did was more powerful than any result.

Whether you are an Obama or McCain supporter, it is time for us all to be Obama supporters because it will be his time to lead us soon and the presidents job is hard enough even with the support of his people.

America spoke and the result in the form of the candidate chosen by its people was heard loud and clear. It is important for us to understand that our government and more importantly, our nation was formed out of what was best for the people, decided by the people.

Last night was no different and without fault, the American people spoke for who they wanted to be its next president and now all we can do is support the choice, if we believe in this country.

I appreciate all who voted for whosoever they saw as the best fit. I applaud the American people and they should be proud of themselves.

Now, lets all show our pride and usher in a new era in American history and make it a time to be proud of.

Vote tomorrow!

I don't care who you vote for - well I kind of do - but you NEED to vote!

Make your voice heard. It is a privilege and should be an obligation.

$1.80 Gas, Karma and lots and lots of cats

I am to fulfill my civic duty and even if you don't know who I'm voting for, it certainly will not be the editor of this online publication.

The Nation Newspaper released this story about exit polls and includes language and vulgarity I would never come to expect from an entity describing itself as a 'newspaper'.

The story is probably fiction anyway, come to really think about it.

_____________________________________________________________________

I did release the kibosh on writing editorials/columns and wrote this piece for The Star Press, published last weekend.

They were happy with it, and apparently the people of Muncie able enough to reason were happy with it, as well.

I like how one user commented using a quote from Winston Churchill:

“If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”

The ones that attack for with no real evidence are my favorite, however.

____________________________________________________________________

Regarding news of late, while Americans struggle through a quagmire of an economic time, Exxon Mobil reported record profits!

Brownsburg, Ind. has gas for $1.80. I might take a little drive.

More good news for people going to, or planning on going to college.

While I battle with the killing of a little sparrow, karma, it seems caught up with one hunter in Spencer, Ind.

McCain is gaining in Ohio and Florida. Good news for those happy with having Sarah Palin as a vice president and ULTIMATELY president.

From across the pond, we find that no one knows our presidents better than the British. London Times online ranks the U.S. presidents and JFK does not make the top-10. Wonder why? Check tomorrow for the 10 top presidents. The anticipation is mounting.

The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series last night, ending a miraculous season for the Tampa Rays. If only. . . .

Also, the Chicago White Sox will NOT resign Ken Griffey Jr. That is probably a good move.

In Richmond, the runnin' Red Devils look to take one more step toward a state championship in IHSAA AAAAA football. (chuckle)

More importantly, Frankenstein opens at Civic theater and it looks pretty well done for Richmond.

And while I'm thinking about adopting a dog, this lady thinks its OK to have 130 cats. That's disgusting.

And even the way we swagger may have changed in these bad economic times.

The Sparrow hit, well my undercarage

I hate to be paranoid or just plain childish but killing a sparrow today really bothered me.

And so I did what every person trying to deal with a horrific event does; I Googled it.

I found this story about an exhibit at the Tate Modern, one of my old stomping grounds. It did not help my situation in the least bit.

So I was thinking that killing a sparrow might seem insignificant, or maybe it isn't. And it was like anything that happens before you have time to react and when you get that initial second where you do react it is not ever what you are expecting, if you can expect anything.

I killed something today. Shouldn't that be something to feel bad about?

I guess what this really is telling of, is the fact that I could not go hunting.

I'm starting to think that if a family of sparrows finds out from the chipped paint or directory or tire marks; they might come after me.

Help.



And while we are talking about dead birds, check out this site where you can order a "That One" t-shirt.

Pittsburgh, Beaver and Inclines

For all the blog-manics out there, forgive me.

Anyway I took a trip to Pittsburgh this weekend and I just realized that Pittsburgh does have an 'h' on the end and despite the spelling I saw on some other Web site, I have been right all along.

Andi and I traveled to Pittsburgh by way of I-70 then US-22 then PA-60 then, well, you get the idea.

We traveled to Beaver, PA on a whim to see her cousin, cousin-inlaw and baby 2nd cousin. I thought of the idea earlier in the week, when I was dying for some time to get away and do something spontaneous.

We arrived about 5 p.m. EST on Friday night, just in time to have dinner and see Junior. We talked for what was about 2 hours prior to Angela's sister arriving and blowing the breaker not once but twice while attempting to cook a potato in the microwave.

The movie for the night was Vantage Point and I enjoyed it. It wasn't great but it made me nervous, a reaction. I like reactions from movies.

In the morning we lounged prior to going to Raccoon Creek State Park and taking a walk where I took some wonderful pictures and took in even-more wonderful scenery.

The Marino's, Andi's cousins, have a dog and let me tell you she was incredible. Jumping through puddles, running through the woods, Canavarro, the dog enjoyed herself and I enjoyed watching her enjoy herself.

That night we went into Pittsburgh and had a wonderful dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse. I had lasagna and plenty of bread. And along with a balloon hat, a balloon artist made me we left just shy of 8 p.m.

We made our way to the Duquesne incline.

The incline is an incline cable car that has served commuters and enthusiast since 1877. It takes passengers from the bank of the river (Monongahela, Allegheny, one of them) up Mount Washington, giving you a wonderful view of downtown Pittsburgh.

After we took pictures and read about the history we headed back down and back to their house in Beaver.

We watch I Am Legend that night and it was just OK.

The next morning we went to church with the Marino's and had lunch at Primanti Bros. in Moon, Penn.

Primanti Bros. are famous for their enormous sandwiches and have been featured on Food Network and the Travel Channel a number of times.

We drove home from there and arrived in 4 hours 45 minutes.

Free Taco's for everyone!

YOU GO JASON Bartlett!

Following last year's successful Taco Bell Free Taco campaign during the World Series, It's back!

Jason Bartlett stole a base in the fifth inning of game one which gives America a free taco Tuesday, Ocotober 28 between 2 and 6 p.m., I believe. Read this story for more information.

NEW TERRY TATE!

New Video From Jib Jab

McCain's Brain #5: The Final Debate | Funny Jokes at JibJab

Petrol below £1 a litre!

I need to write more.

Anyway, here are some things to think about, or rather, read INTO.

Tina Fey said she will stop doing impressions of Sarah Palin if the Republicans win. She also has said she will 'leave earth,' is the GOP triumphs.

And dag-gummit, if I ever missed something I wish I could see. Tomorrow night in Fountain Square the National is playing for FREE! One of my newer favorite bands and I have things to do.

Here are some of the worst gifts for Christmas and I guess anytime you have a need for a decapitated teddy lamp, thanks to Esquire and my friend C. Trent Rosecrans.

AND, bravo to those who received awards for scientific research into some of the fundamental questions in our world. A few of the awards handed out to academics at Harvard University included one researcher who explained what role ovulating played in how much gratuitiy lap dancers received. This article is worth reading.

AND> AND, here are some Logos that have gone terribly wrong!

IN SPORTS

For the first time in 15 years the Phillies will represent the NL in the World Series. Just one half of the sleeper completed Tampa Bay hopes to add the final piece to the puzzle tonight.

Tony Romo might get to spend a little more time with Jessica Simpson and her dogs this week because of a 'bwoken widdle fingey."

You've got to love the Onion for so many reasons including stories like this about T.J.

NEWS

In more important news the DOW is down another 300 points today. This only mean that it may rally 400 tomorrow. And so on and so forth.

And John McCain won the debate last night according to most people on this. But Barack Obama won the debate, here, here and here. Honestly who cares who won, as one of my friends said, why can't we just listen to what each one says and doesn't say.

In British news: Petrol prices are below £1 per litre for the first bloody time in ages! It is down below one quid for the first time in 10 months.

My Strat-O-Matic Lineup

As of yesterday this is my lineup for my strat-o-matic baseball team for next year.

'Cause there's always next year, right Cubs fans?

2009 FCBL Oakland A's

Lineup Ave. HR RBI OBP SLG vs.L vs. R

Braun .285 37 106 .335 .553 .287 .284
Quentin .288 36 100 .394 .571 .246 .303
Hamilt. .304 32 130 .371 .530 .288 .313
Encar. .251 26 68 .340 .466 .292 .235
LaRo. .270 25 85 .341 .500 .242 .282
Votto .297 24 84 .368 .506 .292 .299
Peralta .276 23 89 .331 .473 .247 .285
Napoli .273 20 49 .374 .586 .286 .270
Iannetta .264 18 65 .390 .505 .271 .261
Willingham .254 15 51 .364 .470 .242 .258
Barmes .290 11 44 .322 .468 .307 .283
Winn .306 10 64 .363 .426 .289 .313
Roberts .296 9 57 .378 .450 .313 .289
Spilborghs .313 6 36 .407 .468 .326 .306
Theriot .307 1 38 .387 .359 .305 .308

VS. LEFT
1. Brian Roberts 2b
2. Ryan Theriot SS
3. Josh Hamilton CF
4. Ryan Braun LF
5. Joey Votto 1B
6. Edwin Encarnacion 3B
7.Carlos Quentin DH
8. Mike Napoli C
9. Ryan Spilborghs RF

VS. Right
1. Brian Roberts 2B
2. Ryan Theriot SS
3. Josh Hamilton CF
4. Carlos Quentin DH
5. Ryan Braun LF
6. Joey Votto 1B
7. Jhonny Peralta 3B
8. Randy Winn RF
9. Chris Iannetta C

Rotation
1. Edinson Volquez 3.21 17-6 206 1.33
2. Scott Baker 3.45 11-4 141 1.18
3. Zach Greinke 3.47 13-10 183 1.28
4. Yusmeiro Petit 4.31 3-5 42 1.05
5. Aaron Cook 3.96 16-9 96 1.34

I'm looking at grabbing another starter or two. But other than that I"m pretty happy.

Politics and a blatant lier

The way you vote depends on where you come from and mostly what your concerns are.

Bickering amongst people in regards to who is the better candidate is subjective. But it is subjective due to reasons, oftentimes, outside of one's control.

I can't help that I'm concerned with education, my financial future and equal rights, just as joe-schmoe age 65 can't help to be concerned about Medicare, social security and caring very little about education and college loans.

Realizing that we are voting for 'our' candidate due to that persons tie to us is something young people and older people need to understand. Of course you are going to vote for the candidate you think you can get more from.

OPINION

The last few years of the old have not worked. And blame can be slung all around but the real problem is in getting up and moving on, which we have been unable to do because of bickering on both sides. Realizing that wealth does not trickle down is the first fundamental thing free-marketists need to understand. Realizing that wealth cannot be given out to non-workers is something that socialists need to understand.

Look, both extreme systems are flawed and for us to deny this on either side is wrong. We need a happy medium, we need cooperation amongst different parties. No one in history has ever gotten anything done without help from someone else.

Last night's debate sealed it for me as Sen. John McCain relied on attacking remarks to which Sen. Barack Obama did not respond. McCain was the agressor but showed his anger which is not something that has been welcome on the Senate floor according to many sources in committee. Stating that Obama voted 94 times to either raise taxes or against tax cuts is false. What he is talking about is spending allocations Sen. Obama oversaw and did not change for things that have no affect on income taxes; things like infrastructure, education, etc. Looking at McCain and lumping these allocations into the heap of tax breaks or lack there of, Sen. McCain has vote nearly 400 times against these 'tax cuts'.

And this is only the beginning of the blatant disregard for the facts, as a vice-presidential candidate holds rallies where people are shouting 'kill him' in reference to Obama and 'treason' directed at the senator, as well.

Fact checking bureaus have been having a field day with her as well, as she has been exaggerating Obama's ties to former-radical Bill Ayers; linking him directly to the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, when a top McCain aide is much closely involved with the two housing market giants. And this is just the begining from someone who in the same speach talked about 'truthfulness and judgement' as qualities to be a president.

What a joke.

The Reason for the Financial meltdown

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W.

Funny Video - Top Ten George W. Bush Moments
Uploaded by cilvana1981

Ball State No. 25 in AP rankings

Cubs lose, as they were supposed to and Ball State Cardinals win, as they should.

And then this afternoon there was this.

Congrats Ball State on your first trip to the AP top 25!

Playoff Perspective

I hate to bring it up but here it is.

Maybe it's not over but it sure looks like it from where I sit.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________-

On the subject of the playoffs; isn't it interesting the complexion of the teams that are winning thus far.

It seems to me that the teams enjoying success thus far have developed a lot of their key talent and have been patient in developing rosters and pitching.

To me, if the last few years have showed anything, it has been that the Yankee model doesn't work, at least not right now. Spending extravagant amounts of money for free agents, you end up with huge payrolls, good players in non-pressure situations, i.e. regular season and then disappointment in the postseason, which Cubs fans, is the only thing that really matters.

And I'm not trying to patronize. I feel for you. I root against you but I feel for you.

The fact is that the Cubs, and to a lesser extent only regarding what seems to be one and done trades, the Brewers and Angels, have superstar laden teams which have performed during the regular year.

I saw it coming in May, as Cubs fans for the millionth time, drank the Kool-Aid and patted themselves on the back, again, watching a team with a $100 million+ lead-off hitter, that doesn't play good defense, is oft-injured and whose strikeout to walk ration is 103-43. In my model of a baseball team, lead off hitters are supposed to get on base, not be free swingers. And for the record, for all of you that bought Fukodome shirts early in the year; he sucks.

The Brewers sold their souls to get CC Sabathia, and why not this is their only year as they have a chunk of free agents leaving, namely Ben Sheets, Mike Cameron, Gabe Kapler, Jason Kendall, Salomon Torres, Russel Branyan and said Sabathia. WOW. Hello Pittsburgh and a race for fifth place.

Angels are done and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why forever and now I know. Look at their division race.
Gm. back

Los Angeles	100	62	.617	-
Texas	79	83	.488	21.0
Oakland	75	86	.466	24.5
Seattle	61	101	.377	39.0

They didn't play anyone good. They're done.

ON WHAT IS GOOD: Tampa Bay Rays, L.A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay with a payroll similar to our local McDonald's franchise, has developed players, i.e. B.J. Upton, James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Carl Crawford, and the enigmatic Evan Longoria. They are good, at a cheap price, real good.

L.A. has developed players like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Chad Billingsley, Johnathon Broxton. And unlike other teams who signed flashy superstars, lowercased emphasized, they stick with players who know how to win, i.e. Derek Lowe, Rafael Furcal and Manny Ramirez.

And you know the Red Sox, they spend money but they get it done with players like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury. All young, all cheap and all good.

And once again, its not over. But with Manny being Manny I have my doubts.

I'm a Celebrity!

I might be a semi-celebrity. This evening I was alerted on the fact that My face is on the Ball State Web site; deep, deep in the Web site, but there.

You can look at it here: http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/Journalism/ContactUs.aspx

Markets, Procrastinating, Playoffs

IN the midst of this madness Thomas Friedman delivers an excellent piece about the market meltdown. You should read it here.

I just can't seem to get anything done. I have pushed myself to the limit, just as the credit is choking up the system in the financial markets, so procrastination is clogging up everything I have to do and I just don't have the motivation to do anything.

I think about stuff I need to do and I know that I'll feel better if I just do it, but can't. Oh well.

The baseball playoffs start tonight and I honestly don't care who wins just as long as its not the Cubs. And hear me out on this one.

When you think of the Cubs you think of 100 years of futility and fun. Disaster and disappointments juxtaposed to jubilation and positivity.

Well you won't be able to think that if they win.

It's fundamental: Some teams win and some teams lose. No one fits the bill more than the Cubs, to the latter.

It would hurt baseball, it wouldn't be right and it would change who the Cubs are.

Goodbye Loveable Losers; So long to 'there's always next year.'

'Cause next year would be this year and that will be a hard reality to take. The Cubs winners, it just won't fit.

____________________________________________________________________

Uhh, I got nothing.